I have a private coaching membership program and regular one-on-one sessions. I publish a daily email about copywriting and co-host a copywriting podcast.

Sounds like a lot, right? And I do it all with less than 12 hours of child-free time a week.

Whether you’re running a business around family commitments or you want to do more in less time, so maybe (gasp) you don’t have to work as many hours, this process will help you make the most of the time you have available.

Ugh. Another post about time management?

Yes, but hear me out.

What if I told you that time management is actually the secret to happiness?

We finish each day with a sense of fulfillment and a clear vision of tomorrow.

When I don’t manage my time well, I don’t make progress. And I can’t afford not to make progress. How about you?

It all starts with some analysis.

#1: Know your work zones

Your work zones are the times of the day you can be productive.

I’m not talking about when you’re most creative, although that’s good to know too. I mean the times you can sit down and punch out some work.

For you, that might be 9–5 p.m. every weekday. For others, like me, it will be a little less regular.

One of the reasons I became a freelance copywriter was to have a more family-friendly career. I love it, but it’s an ongoing challenge to manage my workload — a challenge that led me to develop this time management system.

For each day of the week, I know whether I have five hours of quiet time thanks to childcare, two hours in a noisy play center, or one hour spread out in 10-minute intervals.

On the days I have childcare, I can record videos, plan campaigns, write launch email sequences, and chat with clients.

On the other days, I have short bursts of time to engage with my communities and manage my inbox.

When you know your work zones, you can schedule the tasks best suited to each zone.

#2: Be clear about your priorities

I find it easy to be busy. I can go to my inbox at any moment and lose a few hours.

And don’t get me started on social media. I’m marketing my business, so it’s okay. Right?

The harsh truth is that many of the tasks we spend time on don’t make us any money or get us closer to our goals.

To make sure I can accomplish some productive work on my big child-free Monday, I prioritize my weekly workload on Sunday.

I plan for drift by leaving 30 minutes unaccounted for. I can stare out the window. Make my 10th cup of tea. Take the dog for a walk to unclog my creative juices. Or use that time to catch up on work that is taking longer than I expected.

It’s a zone of forgiveness when the days don’t go according to plan. And they happen.

What will you finish next?

“You only get today once. Your team does too. How will you spend it?” – Seth Godin

Now that you know how to squeeze out so much more from your available time, it’s time for you to decide which big goal to work on next.

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